Toilet cleaning apparatus



Aug. 5, 1952 F. H. LAS-SITER TOILET CLEANING APPARATUS 2 SHEETS-SHEET lv Filed Jan. 51, 1949 INVENTOR.

Aug. 5, 1952 F. H. LASSITER TOILET CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 51,1949- 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR. 595052/ 164 lass/7'52 ,QTTOQNEVSPatented Aug. 5, 1952 l i v 2,605,478 I g Fromm CLEANING APPARATUS v IFredericI assitenLosAngeles, (l'alifl V v Application January 31, 1949,Serial Nat-3,860

This invention relates to a closure and cleaning apparatus foriai toiletandxis particularly directed; to: improvements for cleaning aconventional toilet bowlla'nd, toiletseat bothginside': and out and jfor' simultaneously cleaning the floor area about. the. toilet bowl. V

The. problem of keeping public: and semi-public restrooms. clean hasbecome acute in many areas because'ofhigh labor:cos'tsi.an.d because ofinefficient .help. It has. been recognized thatga desirable solution tothis problem would involve mechanical means for suitably cleaning. thebowl and seat in order to do away-With a disagreeable manual. task. The;proposals which have been advanced have. not enjoyed'commercial success,however, since most. of them have: serious shortcomings. either from amechanical, standpoint or from the unsatisfactory .results achieved.Some of the proposals: relate to cleaning of the toilet-seat only.Others. relatexto complicated mechanisms for swinging: or. movingthetoilet bowl bodily into. and. out ofanzenc'losure.

It is the principal object oiimy invention; to provide a closureandcleaning: device for a'conventional form of toilet bowl andseat/which device" avoids the' difiiculties. present in prior artstructures. i

Another important object: isto provide: such a cleaner device. whichalso. cleans thefloor area around the toilet bowl; V Y

Another obj'ecti'isto provide at closure,"v and cleaner device whichcan: be readily applied to existing installations. A more detailedobject is; to provide a retractable hoo'd'which maybe positioned overaconventional toilet bowl and: seat and which is provided with meansfor: cleaning the bowl, seat and floor area around the bowl;

A further object is to provide means for returning the cleaning fiuid.used for cleaning the exterior of the toiletcbowl andthe floor area intothe interior of the toilet bowl from whencei-t may be flushed away inthe usual manner.

Other and more detailed objects andiadvantages will appe r hereinafter.1

In the drawings? f Figure 1 is a. front elevation'partly broken awayshowinga conventional toilet bowl and seatand illustrating a preferred;embodiment of vmy in.-

vention.. i

Figure 2 is a sectionalelevation taken substantially on the lines 22 asshown in Fig'urell.

Figure 3' is a. sectional elevationltaken substantially on the lines 3-3as shown in Figure 2..

Figure 4: is a side elevation. partly in section showingamodified form.a

Figure 5 is a,sectionaldetailshowing construc-' tion of a Venturipump.

Figured is a sectional detail partly'broken away taken substantially on.the lines &'!5: as shown inFigure 4.. 1. t Referring to the drawings,the toilet device generally designated It! comprises a conventional 7' g14 Claims.

toilet bowl ll having'a base l2 ;and atubular outlet !3; A conventionaltoilet seat Mrests on the bowl and is secured thereon by means of, theusual pivot attachment [5. A water supply pipe it; supplies water forflushing-the; toilet when desired. Thefl ush tankand associatedequipmentare omitted from the drawings for clarity of illustration. I t

In accordance with my invention, the toiletbowl H does not rest directlyon the floor H but is mounted: upon a base plate structure It; having anopening I9 through which the tubular projection ['3 extends. Thisbaseplate structure l8 may be provided witha central recess 2t havingdrain. openings 21 in communication therewith. These openings--21 areprovided in the upper surface or floor 2-2w'of; the base plate structureId. This upper surface is; not. horizontal but is inclined sli'g'htly'sothat water drains toward the drainopeningsil I A hood generallydesignated 23 cooperateswith the base plate structure 18 and; verticalwall 2% to provide a closure 25 for the bowl H and seat M; This 1100(1)23 includes a pair of stationary side walls 26, a cover 21 and aswinging front plate=28 pivoted to the cover at 28. The cover 21' ispivoted. at 30 to the brackets 31 fixed 7 relative tothe stationary;uprights 32. A handle jst' may be provided' on the front wall ofthecover if desired forraisingthe cover from the operative positionshown in full'lines in; Figure 2 to the inoperative position as shownbythe dottedlines in Figure 2.- However,v Lpreier towprovide power meansfor raising the ;cover, and. as shownin the drawings this means includesa power cylinder assembly 3-4; Asshown-in Figure 3 this assembly 34' ispivotally secured atone end to the stationary brackets 35 and has v aprojectingpiston rod 36 at the other end pivotal-1y attached at 31; tothe clevis 38 carried on thecover 21. When hydraulic fluid isadmittedinto the hydraulic connection 33a and exhausted through theconnection 39-, the pistonrod- 36, is caused: to move upwardly andpivotthe covera-to the dotted lineiposition. shown inFig-ure 2. Aspring. latch 21d maybecarried on. one of the uprights 32 forresiliently maintaining the cover 21' in raised'positi'on: The coveroperatedby the push-button- 40 maybe employed.

"Pheelectric circuit for operating the electric control valve may bearranged so that when the pushebutton Ml isactuated the cover 21- israised and when-the samebutton, is again actuated the cover vis lowered.;:;W11en-the cover zl ismaisedthe swinging plate 2 8; remains{substantially jver- Means are provided for cleaning the bowl seat l4,and that portion of the floor 22 within.

the enclosure 25. As shown in the drawings this" means includes a pairof central circularnozzle's' 4| and 42 connected by conduit43landcarried.

on a common header pipe 44.

Encircling the inner nozzles 4| and 42 is .a pair. of outer ring shapednozzles 45 and 46 connected by piping 41 and supported on the header 44.The header 44 is provided with a right angle extension 48 pivotallyreceived'within'a stutfing box 49 and the hea'der'44 is supportedbymeans of a support clip-50 attached to the cover 21. From thisdescriptionit'will be understood that when the cover 21- is raised thesupportclip 50 causes the nozzles 4|, 42, 45 and 46 to be raised aboutthe axis of the right angle extension pipe 48 so that the nozzleassembly generally designated 5| assumes the dotted line position-shownin Figure 2 when retracted. v

The inner nozzles 4| and 42 are provided with a plurality of openings 52which are adapted to direct jets of cleaning fluid against the innerportions of the bowl II and inner parts of the seat I4. The outer ringnozzles 45 and 46 are also provided with openings 53 adapted to directjets of cleaning fluid against the outer portions of the'seat |4'andalso against the outer surface of the upper part of the bowl I I.Additional jet openings 54 may be provided in the lower ring nozzle 46which direct jets against the floor 22 within the enclosure 25.

The cleaning fluid employed may comprise steam'or hot or cold water withor without a suitabledetergent. The cleaning fluid is supplied from asuitablechamber 55. This chamber may enclose an electrically heatedflash boiler, and if a detergent is to be used the upper portion of thechamber 55 may be occupied by the detergent receptacle. Cold water isadmitted into the inlet fitting 56 at the lower end of the chamber 55,and hot o'r cold water with detergent or hot water or steam withoutdetergentis delivered through the outlet pipe 51 to the stuffing box I9.The flow of water through the inlet fitting 551s controlled by asuitable valve (not shown) which in turn may be operated by means of theelectrical push-button 4|. It is contemplated that a suitable interlockwill be provided so that it is not possible to operate the cleaningapparatus unless the hood 2'! is in operative position.

Means are provided for disposing of the cleaning fluid which collects onthe floor 22 within the enclosure 25. As shown in the drawings the floor22 is inclined so that the cleaning fluid flows toward the base l2 ofthe bowl H and gravitates through the ports 2| into the recess 20. Asuction pipe 58 establishes communication between the recess and thescreened inlet 59 to the motor driven pump 60. The fluid pumped passesoutwardly through the discharge line 6| through the check valve 62 andinto the pipe Hi from whence it may be discharged in the usual waythrough the outlet passage 63 and sewer pipe 64. The motor driven pump6|] is controlled by the push-button 4| so that the pump operates whilethe cleaning fluid is being sprayed on the bowl, seat and floor. A timedelay devicemay be employed if desired so that the motor driven pump 6|]continues to operate for a short time interval after the push-button 4|is actuated to stop the cleaning cycle.

4. In the modified formqqf my inyention shown in Figures Land 5, the;motor driven pump 60 is replaced by a Venturitype ump 10 which isconnected through supply conduit H with the inlet pipe l6 and connectedthrough discharge "fline 12 and check valve 13 to the supply pipe |6.downstream from the restriction 14.

A check valve "15 'is' also placed in the inlet line 16 whichcommunicates with the recess 20 in the base structure |8. In this formof my invention the cleaning fluid 'is removed from the recess 2!!whenever water flows into the toilet bowl.

The size of the recess 20" is governed by the amount of cleaning fluidwhich must bedispo'sed of from the recess 20'on' each cleaning cycle. Arelatively'small volumefor theLrecess 20' is sufflcient when themotordrivn pump 6|] is employed, but a larger volum'eil'must be providedwhen the Venturi pump '10 'is' used because the Venturi pump .10operates only when thetoilet is flushed and therefore .a larger volumeof cleaning fluid accumulates between cleaning cycles.

It is contemplated that my invention may be employed in connection withnew plumbing installations or it may be installed in connection withexisting equipment. The base structure it can be of split form ifnecessary, but I prefer to employ an integral unit without the split andto raise the toilet bowl sufliciently to install it between the floor ofthe room and the toilet bowl. It may be necessary or desirable to employdrying means to follow the cleaning cycle. Compressed air may be pipedinto the enclosure if. desired and arranged to dry the seat after thesupply of cleaning fluid to the spray nozzles has been shut oif. Thecontrol for such' drying air would be interlocked with the cleaningcycleso that the air would be turned on after the cleaning fluid is shut offand before the cover 21 is raised.

Having fully described imyiinvention', it is to be understood that I donot wish to be limited to the details herein set, forth,"but; myinvention is of the full scope of the appended claims. 1

Iclaim:

1. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seatiand bowl in situ, comprising incombination:' means .forming an enclosure for the bowl and seat,"sa'idmeans including stationary walls'and'a movable cover; means whereby thecover may be retracted to an inoperative position remote 'from the bowland seat; and a retractablespray nozzle assembly within the enclosureand having portionsthereof adapted to direct jets of'cleaning fluidagainst the bowl and seat. 1 r

2. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat and bowl in situ, comprising incombination'zrneans forming an enclosure for the bowl and seat,'saidmeans including stationary wallsand a..mov'able cover; a spraynozzle assembly?havingportions'thereof adapted to direct jets ofcleaning fluid against the bowl and seat; and means whereby the coverand said assembly maybe retracted to' an'ino'perative position. remotefrom-the bowl and seat."

3. Apparatusfor cleaning atoilet's'eat and bowl in situ, comprising incombination? means'forming an enclosure for the bowl and seat",said'means including stationary wallsand a'r'novable cover; meanswhereby the coverfmay beretracted to an inoperative position remotefromthe'bowl and seat; a spray nozzle assembly having a portion thereofadapted to direct j ets of cleanin ifiuid against the bowl and seat; andmeans'whe'reby" the nozzle assembly may. be'mov'ed to aninoperativeposition. i

connecting the nozzle assembly for pivotal movement with the cover.

5. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat, bowl and floor area around thebowl, comprising in combination: means forming an enclosure for the bowland seat, said means including stationary walls and a movable cover; aspray nozzle assembly having a portion thereof adapted to direct jets ofcleaning fluid against the bowl and seat and against the floor areawithin the enclosure; and means whereby the cover and said assembly maybe retracted to an inoperative position remote from the bowl and seat.

6. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat, bowl and .floor area around thebowl, comprising in combination: means forming an enclosure for the bowland seat, said means including stationary walls and a movable cover,said means also including a base structure extending under the bowl andhaving an inclined floor for drainage, a spray nozzle assembly adaptedto direct jets of cleaning fluid against the bowl and seat, the basestructure being provided with a recess to receive the cleaning fluiddraining from the inclined floor; and means for pumping cleaning fluidfrom said recess into the interior of the toilet bowl.

'7. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat, bowl and floor area around thebowl, comprising in combination: means forming an enclosure for the bowland seat, said means including stationary walls and a movablecover,'said means also including a base structure extending under thebowl and havin an inclined floor for drainage, a spray nozzle assemblyadapted to direct jets of cleaning fluid against the bowl and seat andagainst the floor area within the enclosure,-

means whereby the cover and said assembly may be retracted to aninoperative position, the base structure being provided with a recess toreceive the cleaning fluid draining from the inclined floor; and meansfor pumping cleaning fluid from said recess into the interior of thetoilet bowl.

8. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat, bowl and floor area around thebowl, comprising in combination: means forming an enclosure for the bowland seat, said means including stationary side walls and a movable coverprovided with a hinged front wall, said means also includin a basestructure extending under the bowl and having an inclined floor fordrainage, a spray nozzle assembly adapted to direct jets of cleaningfluid against the bowl and seat, means for retracting the cover andspray nozzle assembly to an inoperative position remote from said bowland seat.

9. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat, bowl and floor area around thebowl, comprising in combination: means forming an enclosure for the bowland seat, said means including stationary side walls and a movable coverprovided with a hinged front wall, said means also including a basestructure extending under the bowl and having an inclined floor fordrainage, a spray nozzle assembly adapted to direct jets of cleaningfluid against the bowl and seat; pump means for delivering cleaningfluid draining from the inclined floor to within the toilet bowl; andmeans for retracting the cover and spray nozzle assembly to aninoperative position remote from said bowl and seat.

10. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat, bowl and floor area around thebowl, comprising in combination: means forming an enclosure for the bowland seat, said means including stationary side walls and a movable coverprovided with a hinged front wall, said means also including a basestructure extending under the bowl and having an inclined floor fordrainage, and spray means within the enclosure for directing cleaningfluid against the seat, bowl and inclined floor.

11. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat, bowl and floor area around thebowl, comprising in combination: means forming an enclosure for the bowland seat, said means including stationary side walls and a movable coverprovided with a hinged front wall, said means also including a basestructure extending under the bowl and having an inclined floor fordrainage; spray means within the enclosure for directing cleaning fluidagainst the seat, bowl and inclined floor; and common means forretracting the cover and spray means to an inoperative position remotefrom said seat.

v 12. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat, bowl and floor area aroundthe bowl, comprising in combination: means forming an enclosure for thebowl and seat, said means including stationary walls and a movablecover, saidmeans also including a base structure'extending under thebowl and having an inclined floor for drainage, the base structure beingprovided with a recess to receive the cleaning fluid draining from theinclined floor; and a Venturi pump actuated by flow of water to thetoilet bowl for'pumping cleaning fluid from said recess into theinterior of the toilet bowl.

13. Apparatus for cleaning the floor area around a toilet bowl,comprising in combination: a base structure extending under the bowl andhaving an inclined floor for draining; fluid spray means for cleaningthe bowl and floor; and means including a pump for delivering fluiddraining from the inclined floor into the interior of the toilet bowl.

14. Apparatus for cleaning a toilet seat and bowl in situ comprising incombination: walls forming an enclosure for the bowl and seat; means formoving certain of the walls to expose the bowl and seat for use; a,spray nozzle assembly operable within the enclosure and having a portionthereof adapted to direct jets of cleaning fluid against the bowl andseat; and means whereby the nozzle assembly may be moved to aninoperative position,

FREDERIC H. LASSITER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in'the file .ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Wertz Apr. 29, 1930

